Three months ago, I said goodbye to my four-legged best friend and the one that lived long enough to come with me to vet school. He was 14 years and 8 months when he recently crossed the rainbow bridge. My family and I rescued him when he was almost 6 months old. He was not my first dog but I developed a special connection with him. He was my fur baby, my study buddy, and pet therapist.
Peluche’s health declined just in a few months and he was diagnosed with a heart tumor at the beginning of this summer. He did not make it to the end of June… After a necropsy was performed on him, they found out he had an anaplastic large cell lymphoma in his heart that compromised his breathing and quality of life. This kind of cancer rarely involves only the heart and affects a very small percentage of dogs around the world. Despite all the diagnostic tests done, there was no evidence of cancer until he got worse and it was too late.
But, Peluche was a warrior because he survived Hurricane Maria when it hit my home in Puerto Rico, skin allergies, TMS hypersensitivity reaction, and painful arthritis. Fighting against cancer was his last battle…he lost this one but he tried until the end of his days.
It was hard to realize that his life came to an end in just a blink of an eye… I honestly could not imagine my vet school life without him and his company. But, I am glad that he was by side on many stressful days, long study nights and also in successful moments.
I miss him so much… but I know I have gained a fur angel that is no longer by my side but forever in my heart!
